Biography: Harley Davidson

[ethics]

Nothing earth shattering but still a good documentary. I just wish they went in to more why they beat out shops like Indian and Merkel. A nice glimpse in to the whole AMF buying out Harley Davidson.

[tke711]

The brand new Harley Museum is opening up this summer here in Milwaukee. You'll have to make a road trip to come see it. :)

[Biker]

If he's gonna make that trip, the AMA Heritage Museum in Westerville, Ohio is also a must see.

Speaking of which, are our new riders members of AMA (http://www.ama-cycle.org/) yet?

[Kluge]

I recall seeing a writer (probably on a forum-style web site) who asserted that the only thing Harley-Davidson did was copy other maker's designs. Not unlike the criticisms of the early days of Microsoft, I think, except H-D was on the racing circuit and despite vehicles tending to look alike and use similar technology, some makers do better than others.

Another reason might be the hometown, with wide open spaces nearby H-D was in a market that had room for its product. Massachusetts is crowded, hilly, twisty, dewy, loaded with trees & fallen leaves, relatively close to mass transportation, much more expensive to own land even far from cities. Huge population of old money with consequent fall-out of used cars at lower prices.

[MNeedham73]

Not yet, no. I'm a member of the local Star Motorcycle Club (membership came with the bike) and the Northern IL chapter of A.B.A.T.E. (http://niabate.com/default.aspx)

[ethics]

Speaking of which, are our new riders members of AMA (http://www.ama-cycle.org/) yet?

Can you tell me why we should join?

[Kluge]

Space Farms (http://www.spacefarms.com/museum.html) had quite a Harley collection when I was there a decade or so ago. A good local trip for NY-NJ-PA residents.

[Biker]

Can you tell me why we should join?

Their legislative efforts (http://www.amadirectlink.com/rights/index.asp)(both at the state and federal level) are worth the membership. The organization is very active to ensure we're able to ride.

[ethics]

I recall seeing a writer (probably on a forum-style web site) who asserted that the only thing Harley-Davidson did was copy other maker's designs.

That's not true. Not according to the documentary. The first two Harley and Davidson were good friends (one from England the other from Scotland) who loved to do things together like fishing. They used to bike to the lake and wanted something better than the bike (uphill were a killer). So they started working on protocols. Harvey Davidson was the engineer of the family and came in on an invite from them to "ride their bike" and when he arrived, there was just parts. So being an engineer, he jumped in to help. So the three boys got 3 Cycles off and then just started adding more people (and family) to work on the bike.

The there were three big keys in HD's success.

1. The invention and the making of the first bike, and the investment by their uncle in to the business.
2. During Depression to completely re-design the motorcycle and in 1935 the EL model was selling like hot cakes and even military ordered NINETY thousand of them.
3. The decision to buy Harley back from AMF and redesign it yet again.

[Biker]

AMF almost drove the company into the ground. I had an AMF Sportster and I was one of the lucky ones where the only issues I had with the bike was the carb. I finally ended up ripping the damned thing out and replacing it with an aftermarket carb.

[Kluge]

I kind of assumed that the cynical writer was referring to, maybe, the soft-tail looking too much like the Indian or something like that. My point in making the reference was that maybe H-D focused more on business sense than on being the firstest with the mostest, and my thoughts were based on the copycat label being somewhat credible. I don't know a lot about H-D history, your post taught me quite a bit. I'm sorry I couldn't just follow a link to see the bio.

[ethics]

At first, I believe other makers were trying to copy HD. This is one of their first models:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/1907_Harley_Davidson.jpg



Later on? Perhaps HD tried to copy others. But keep in mind that HD was THE first in motorcycle racing (hence the pig on the track and the later term "Hog" and they used to beat the shit out of competition.

Before all that, however, there was a ride in NY, 350 mile track, in which William himself took their cycle and did it. Not only did he win but he never stopped for repairs or even carry spare parts--unlike all the other makers. THAT drew huge crowds in to buying the cycle.

[Biker]

The very first motorcycle they built also ran for over 100,000 miles. Virtually unheard of back then.